Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Security Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southmoreland SD board approves Guardian Protection contract for fire and security systems amid bidding questions
Summary
The Southmoreland SD board voted 6–1 to accept Guardian Protection’s bid to upgrade fire and security systems across district buildings. Administrators said three quotes were sought; board members raised questions about bid advertising, document discrepancies and security access for wireless systems.
The Southmoreland School District Board of School Directors voted 6–1 to accept a proposal from Guardian Protection to upgrade fire and security systems at district buildings.
Calvin, who the board identified as the administrator for buildings and grounds, told directors the district solicited three documented quotes and that Guardian’s bid satisfied the district’s requirements. "I contacted these 3 people," Calvin said when describing the procurement steps and added that Guardian provided system drawings at no charge and used National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements.
Board members pressed staff on details of the procurement. One director said an older phone-book search listed many local alarm companies and asked why the district ended up with only two valid bids for a project budgeted in the roughly $56,800 range. Calvin responded that one submission was incomplete and the others were valid. "Obtain document quotes or requotations from a reasonable number of qualified sources, at least 3, written or documented," Calvin said, describing the standard he followed.
Members also raised discrepancies between hard-copy and online bid recaps. Staff said the online version had been updated after copies were printed; the board confirmed the online recap showed the corrected allocations, including that the middle and elementary schools share a single system.
The board back-and-forth included technical and security questions. Directors asked whether Guardian’s system would rely on cellular transmission rather than landlines and who would hold access codes if the system is phone- or app-controlled. Calvin said the company confirmed a timeline for wiring work and that the high school would require additional wiring; he described the system as meeting NFPA requirements and said Guardian estimated it could complete necessary work in time before school opens if given notice by Aug. 1.
After discussion, the board recorded the motion to accept the Guardian proposal by roll call: six votes in favor, one opposed, with two members absent. The recap sheet displayed an installation cost of $45,852.84 and an annual service cost of $8,591.88.
The board did not discuss specific contract language, vendor insurance, warranty terms or a formal implementation timeline in public; several members said detailed security questions might require executive-session discussion to avoid publicly revealing information that could impair district safety. The motion passed, and staff indicated contract and installation details would be reflected in the online recap.
What happens next: staff will finalize the contract and schedule work with Guardian Protection; board members asked that committee and security-related details be brought forward for appropriate, possibly closed-session, review.
